The Ambassador Award, Open Competition Award, and Distance Horse of the Year Award are designed to recognize Arabian and Half-Arabian/Anglo-Arabian horses that excel outside of AHA. Horses nominated by the deadline are chosen by the AHA Awards Committee at the Annual Convention each year.
The 2018 Open Competition Award Winner was awarded to K-Love++/ previously known as the stallion OFW Krow (RSD Dark Victory x KT Koffeen Kream) a 14 year old Purebred Arabian owned by Shelby Suelzle and bred by Kirk Thorne.
Some of K-Love’s accomplishments include the 2013 DASC Reserve Champion in Training level and 4th place in RAAC Training Level, 2014 First level at USDF regional championship placing 5th, DASC Reserve Champion First level, and PCD High Point Breed Award for first level. In 2016, K-Love received DASC 3rd place champion and 3rd place year end champion in third level. 2017 USDF Regionals 16th place in Third level, and USDF horse Performance Certificate, and PCD high point All Breed Award for third level as well. He also qualified for CDS championships in 2018 for Fourth level.
K-Love has been shown in AHA recognized regional and national shows. He was awarded USEF Horse of the Year in 2017 and 2016, and was National Top Ten in 2nd level in ATR, AOTR in 2016, and he qualified for Nationals in 2018 in 3rd and 4th level.
He truly represents the beauty of the Arabian and is consistently successful in dressage competitions. He is noticed in public everywhere not only for his incredible beauty, but also for his calm, sweet demeanor. He has been featured in local news in Norco, CA for his assistance in training the special Olympic Equestrian team. K-Love shines in any open competition he enters into and Shelby is excited about the dreams and goals she has for him.
The 2018 Open Competition Award Winner was also awarded to JW Alexandrite+++// (Safire++ x Lucinda on Fire) a 21-year-old purebred Arabian owned by Madeline & Melanie Erce and bred by Kimberly Ann Hegstrom.
Alex has exceled in open competitions at USDF recognized shows earning a total of 22 first place finishes. Coming out of the ring, Madeline would often get asked what breed Alex was: Mustang? Connemara Pony? Part Thoroughbred? Maybe part Arabian, but he wasn’t a purebred, right? She would always tell inquisitive bystanders he was the best breed in the world – an Arabian! In 2016, Madeline wanted to start riding musical freestyles. She designed and choreographed the music herself and Alex would go through the movements patiently until the test finally aligned with the music. Their first goal was to earn the USDF Bronze Freestyle Bar. In order to complete this task, they needed to earn six scores of 65% or higher at First, Second and Third Level musical freestyles. This goal was completed in October 2017. The next goal was to earn the Silver Freestyle Bar which needed four scores of 65% or higher at Fourth Level musical freestyle. The pair completed this achievement in August 2018. Madeline and Alex had previously earned their USDF Bronze Medal and USDF Silver Medal while attending Arabian shows. Together, these two have earned four of the six medals a rider can earn in an entire lifetime – all while aboard an Arabian!
Some of Alex’s accomplishments on the AHA circuit include 4 National Championships, 5 National Reserve Championships, 31 Regional Championships and 22 Regional Reserve Championships competing in dressage, sport horse show hack, sport horse under saddle, sport horse in-hand, hunt seat equitation, showmanship and western dressage. At Canadian Nationals, Alex has been Top Ten in First Level Dressage, National Champion in Second Level Dressage, National Reserve Champion in Third Level Dressage, National Champion in Fourth Level Dressage and National Champion in Prix St. Georges Dressage.
JW Alexandrite+++// was nicknamed “the wild horse” when Madeline first bought him, but he turned out to be just the opposite. He has proven to be calm and good-natured. He represents the Arabian breed well with his talent, loyalty and athletic ability whether at Arabian shows or on the open USDF circuit. He has also represented the breed many times at Midwest Horse Fair as the Arabian dressage horse and has given several demonstrations to local AHA club members. Madeline and JW Alexandrite+++//’s next goal is to attend the 2019 USDF Regionals to compete at the FEI levels and prove even further what an Arabian can do.
The 2018 Ambassador Award winner is JAG Lady Pegasus+/, a 22 year old Half Arabian mare owned and bred by Kathy Gilker.
Peggy has achieved many accomplishments from meet and greets with the Girl Scouts to introduce them to the Arabian horse to participating in the Horse Tales Literacy Project. Peggy was also used for children’s riding camps and camp shows at Trowbridge LTD and Centurion Farm. Where she introduced riders not only to the Arabian, but to the joy of riding. Megan also took Peggy to college with her where she was handled and/or ridden by IHSA team members and agriculture/vet students where although she was not a “team horse” she represented the Arabian breed well and left everyone with a positive experience as well. JAG Lady Pegasus has showed in many Arabian class A shows, received a National Top Ten in HA/AA Sport Horse Under Saddle ATR at 2015 Sport Horse Nationals and multiple Region 12 Champion, Reserve Champion or Top Ten awards in Sport Horse disciplines.
Some of Peggy’s other accomplishments as a Breed Ambassador include being featured on the Stirrup Clothing Company Fall/Winter 2014 apparel catalog. She was a favorite of the Forsyth County 4H horse judging team at practices and allowed the youth mentees of MentorMe North Georgia, Inc., which teams up school age children and youth with positive role models to help them grow into respected members in society, a hands on opportunity to learn about the Arabian.
Over Peggy’s lifetime she has trained under hunter, dressage, and eventing trainers and embodies a hallmark of what the Arabian breed represents even as a Half Arabian, showing the beauty, intelligence, work ethic, athleticism, willingness, trainability, and patience with less experienced riders or those being introduced to the breed for the first time. Through her personality traits, JAG Lady Pegasus has changed some people’s opinions of Arabians and continues to do so today.
The 2018 Ambassador Award winner is JAG Lady Pegasus+/, a 22 year old Half Arabian mare owned and bred by Kathy Gilker.
Congratulations to the 2018 Distance Horse of the Year, PL Mercury “Merc”, a 27-year-old gelding out of AM Autumn Mead X Playland Lady, and owned by Claire Godwin.
Merc began his endurance career at the age of 15 and has completed six out of seven endurance rides he has attended this year.
Merc and Claire attended the AERC National Championships placing 15th in the 100 Mile, placing 13th in the Tevis Cup out of 64 riders, placing 6th in the Old Dominion 100 Mile with a finish time of 16:44:33, and three 50 to 55 Mile rides including the DBDR Indy Run placing third, Old Dominion No Frills placing 8th and the Fort Valley Ride placing 17th.
"Thank you to everyone who has cheered him on this year and in years past. He is a delight and a welcome ‘good news story” when so many stories aren't as cheerful,” Godwin said. “The most compelling thing about him is that he serves as an ambassador to all horsemen that wonder if their older horse could possibly be able to compete in distance riding. Horses live longer and feel better if they are exercised regularly, just like people. Merc serves as a positive model for the general public that distance riding is, at its best, correlated with longevity and the maintenance of wellbeing.”
This award recognizes the Arabian or Half-Arabian/Anglo-Arabian horse(s) for outstanding achievement in representing the Arabian horse community to the general public.
The horse must have achieved a unique accomplishment that showcases the breed in order to be eligible. Persons who wish to have their horse considered for this award or persons who know of an outstanding horse to be considered for this award, must prepare a letter of particulars along with recommendation letters from a minimum of three (3) AHA members, including their AHA member numbers and submit it to the AHA office by September 1. Please see chapter 19 of the current AHA Handbook for additional details.
This award recognizes an Arabian or Half-Arabian/Anglo-Arabian Horse(s) for outstanding achievement in representing the Arabian horse community in areas of Open competition such as, but not limited to: Open reining, competitive trail, competitive endurance, combined driving, hunter, eventing, jumping, carriage pleasure driving, working western and dressage. The horse must have received acknowledgement at the higher levels of competition such as, but not limited to: Regional championships, National competitions and International competitions open to all breeds and/or shown progressive and consistent accomplishment within the discipline.
In addition, it must have been acknowledged and promoted that the horse was a representative of the Arabian breed in some form; publications, demonstrations, or other public forums. Persons who wish to have their horse considered for this award or persons who know of an outstanding horse to be considered for this award must prepare a letter of particulars along with recommendation letters from a minimum of three (3) AHA members, including their AHA member numbers and submit it to the AHA office by September 1. Please see chapter 19 of the current AHA Handbook for additional details.
For additional information on the Open Competition Award, or for help nominating a horse, please contact AHA.
This award recognizes the significant accomplishment of an Arabian or Half-Arabian/Anglo-Arabian horse in the distance sports. Persons who wish to have their horse considered for this award or persons who know of an outstanding horse to be considered for this award must complete the official nomination form and submit it to the AHA office by November 1. Please see chapter 19 of the current AHA Handbook for additional details. |
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